Gary V, Charice share concert stage

Pure Energy Gary Valenciano, together with international singing star Charice Pempengco, are the new endorsers of Aficionado Germany Perfumes and Joel Cruz Signatures. They will be officially launched via a big concert titled “1@11” to be held at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds tomorrow night, Jan. 8, with a mammoth crowd expected to watch what could perhaps be the biggest concert event of the year. It should be noted that this is the first time that Gary and Charice are performing together in a concert.

At the presscon held Tuesday at the Imperial Palace Suites along Tomas Morato Ave., Gary shared his thoughts of being chosen as endorser of the perfume brand as well as doing a concert with Charice.

“When I was first told by my management that there might be a possibility of me endorsing a cologne brand, I asked around if people were aware of the Aficionado brand and there was always a positive feedback. And I think you guys in the media, knowing the number of products that I’ve endorsed and the number of times I’ve explained to you all, it takes time before I settle down for something. It takes time before I jump into endorsing a product. There’s got to be proof as to why I am doing to do this regardless of what I may be paid for but over and above that, it has to be something that I believe in. This is one example of that,” Gary V explained lengthily.

“It’s a Filipino product and the fact that they are 80,000 tickets sold, I think that’s proof that there’s a lot of support for the product that I not only believe in but people also believe in. When I found out that the deal of endorsing this cologne brand is pushing through, I was glad. Then we went to the process of selecting the scent that what I felt would suit me. That was the fun part. I am overjoyed and I am looking forward whatever else has to be done to make people know that these products are out there for them to enjoy.”

While he has had performed with Charice in ASAP, Gary said that this is the first time he’s doing a show with Charice in a venue like the MOA, which he believes that Charice is ready to do at this point. While Charice has yet to arrive (she’s supposedly arriving today or on the day of the concert and may not have enough time to rehearse), Gary said that Charice is not just a singer but is an excellent performer.

“And I have confidence. I would not have agreed to do a show with her if she could not meet the standard by which she has put upon herself being an international artist at this point representing the Philippines in ways that we could only dream of. So I am very confident that when we step on that stage together…and she knows that I am looking forward to this also. So when we step on that stage and do our first number together, it’s going to be a number that I certainly would never forget. And one that I hope that she won’t forget too,” added Mr. Pure Energy.

He also notes that Charice dances but she’s not the type who’d go onstage and make people know that she can also do dance moves. “She can move and if she has to dance, she really can. Once she did one of her original songs in ASAP, a song that I didn’t even know she wrote, she was moving and rapping. We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg with this girl. She can groove. I certainly believe she can dance, I mean, be choreographed and she can move to certain beat and rhythm. It’s going to be a feather on my cap to be able to do a concert with Charice, with about 80,000 people on Saturday,” he said.

The show, according to Gary, is equally split between him and Charice. It’s going to be interesting how Charice is going to perform with Gary V who said that the only advantage he has is that he’d be performing with his band, and with Mon Faustino as his musical director. He said that he and the management of Charice have been constantly communicating as to what would happen during the concert. 

Aside from Gary and Charice, “1@11” will also feature top selling Aficionado endorser John Lloyd Cruz as well as other Joel Cruz Signature endorsers; namely, Jason Abalos, Erich Gonzales, Ronnie Liang, Pauleen Luna and Ejay Falcon. The brand will also launch its cologne for kids featuring endorsers Xyriel Manabat and Buboy Villar. The UST Coro Tomasino will also perform during the show. The amazing rock band Kamikazee will take on the stage after the fashion show and the main concert event. Other great surprises await the audience as Joel Cruz will give away special prizes amounting to a total of six million pesos.

The event will also showcase an impressive assembly of the country’s top male and female models as they sashay through the runway wearing Joel Cruz Signatures’ newest apparel collection in a fashion show that will be directed by top fashion director Robby Carmona and produced by Saga Events, Inc.

Overall event direction is by Roxanne Lapus and the project is a joint venture of Central Affirmative, Inc. and Manila Genesis Entertainment and Management Inc.